Annual Hoedown to support award-winning music program at Dublin High

Dublin High School Music Boosters will host their annual Hoedown on May 6th to support music programs at Dublin High. This event features a Fiesta theme with an all-you-can eat taco bar by Grillaxin’ Taco Service, signature margaritas, live music, auction, raffles, DJ dance, and fun people to hang out with. Anyone 21+ is graciously invited to attend.

Dublin Irish Guard Music Boosters Club, a 501(c)3 non-profit, is charged with raising funds to support diverse music programs at Dublin High. Over 250 students (appx. 10% of school population) are enrolled in band, orchestra and choir classes and perform in various competitions and showcases throughout the year. Color Guard is an extracurricular that is also part of the music department programs as they support marching and pep bands, as well as their own winter season.

The music department had their best year in decades. Fall Field Show (aka football halftime show) season this school year was the best in DHS history earning several first place awards, including a Sweepstakes award. Winter Color Guard won California Color Guard Circuit Championships and placed 6th in Winter Guard International Regional Finals, and accomplishment with bragging rights. Winter Percussion (drumline) also earned several first place awards and brought home a first place at Northern California Band Association Championships, narrowly losing the top Championship spot by a fraction of point. Jazz band performed in Folsom Jazz Festival, the largest in California, earning high marks, as well as Campana Jazz Festival in neighboring Pleasanton. Choir ensembles participated and competed in events this spring in San Francisco and Anaheim, and Chamber Vocal Ensemble received a Gold Award and an invitation to the Festival of Gold at Carnegie Hall next year in New York! Congratulations all around to all students, directors Mr. Paul Everts and Ms. Allie Lopiano, color guard instructor Mr. Brian Ward, and support instructors for an amazing year.

Supporting these students requires a substantial amount of money and many volunteer hours from parents and supporters. Instructors, transportation, instrument repairs and purchases, uniform repairs and purchases, music licensing and choreography, show props and more add up to annual operating costs in excess of $175,000. Funding is entirely by the Music Boosters through fundraising efforts and parent donations. Though the two music directors are teachers and salaries are funded through the school district, the boosters are responsible for salaries to additional instructors, including guard, percussion, marching, and an accompanist for choir.

While many students own and play their own instruments, about 20% of the instruments are owned by the school, in particular various drums, marimbas, bells, sousaphones, baritones, a Gong, timpani, other large instruments and amplifiers that complete the sound of the bands and orchestra. Over last summer, the boosters were able to purchase, with matching funds from DUSD, new instruments to replace old, damaged instruments and add new ones to the ensembles. This was the first instrument purchase in at least ten years.

HoeDown Fiesta tickets are $50 each or $360 for a table of eight, on sale through Friday, April 28th at dhsirishguard.org. If you would like to make a donation to our raffle or auction, please contact fundraising@dhsirishguard.org. The event is held at the Dublin Senior Center from 6-11 pm on Saturday, May 6.

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